The Graduate School and American Studies together determine what constitutes good standing status for a graduate student.  This status is necessary for registration, for application for some fellowships, and for appointment to teaching positions throughout the university.

• In general, students are in “good standing” if they hold at least a 3.5 grade point average, and have taken 6-8 courses during each of their first two years.
• have no more than two incomplete courses,
• and are making good academic progress toward a Ph.D. degree as measured by the following benchmarks.

1. File Degree Program. Typically, during the 2nd year. No later than first semester of 3rd Year.
2. Complete all coursework (except the dissertation seminars) Before submitting the preliminary portfolio.
3. File Intent to Submit Preliminary Porfolio. Last day of semester preceding submission of preliminary portfolio.
4. Complete Written and Oral Examination. No later than first semester of 4th Year Typically, during the 3rd Year
5. File the thesis proposal Term after passing Prelim Oral
   Take 24 thesis credits Term after passing Prelim Oral Exam
6. Complete the Dissertation Five Years after passing Prelim Oral

The University’s policy of “open files,” allows students to see all materials in their own files unless they have waived the right to see a letter of recommendation. No student has access to the files of any other student under any circumstances. Request for documents in your files must be made using the instruction sheet or via e-mail with enough time to allow the staff to act upon the request (at least two business days). Students may never look through the files of the Graduate Program without permission of staff.

If a committee finds program statements, prelims and responses, or fellowship applications highly commendable, the DGS will ask permission from the student to add their work to the sample files in the Graduate Student Computer Room (room 5 Scott Hall). These files will be available for all graduate students to view.

Graduate students in the Department of American Studies are expected to maintain a grade point average of at least 3.5. Should a student’s GPA fall below this point during a given semester, the Director of Graduate Studies issues a warning letter.

Graduate students in the Department of American Studies are expected to complete all courses taken during a given semester. Should a student accumulate two or more incomplete courses, the Graduate School informs the Department. The student will be contacted by the DGS and will be required to provide a schedule for removal of the incompletes to maintain good standing status.

The Graduate School does not have a leave of absence policy for graduate students. Should American Studies Graduate Students face an emergency situation that requires they leave school, they may request a leave of absence from the DGS. However, leaves are granted only in unusual circumstances and they cannot be taken for longer than one year. The student must maintain registration in the Graduate School. Grad 999 (zero-credit, zero-fee, non-graded) registration option (see the Graduate School website and Registration Restrictions, page 7) which will satisfy this requirement. In most cases, leaves of absence will affect graduate student admission funding packages.

Graduate students in the Department of American Studies are encouraged to publish papers in scholarly journals. Class instructors are encouraged to work with students who have written publishable papers and to advise them on potential journals and the publishing process. Students are also encouraged to discuss publishing opportunities with their adviser, the DGS, and the Chair.

Graduate students are also encouraged to submit papers to local and national scholarly conferences. Calls for papers received by the American Studies Department are posted on the Graduate Student bulletin board outside 104 Scott Hall. Calls for papers are also sent via email to active graduate students at their University of Minnesota email address.